Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
To Bronze Age drivel
Currently, it seems there is a wall insulating religion from criticism and reason. Liberals and conservative alike maintain that we must respect others’ culture and religions. They argue for the importance of cultural context. This view would seem to suggest that any behavior is compatible with any state of mind.
History validates our willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs, even when some of those beliefs inspire the worst of human atrocities. Today in a number of Middle East countries there exists an Islamic culture that approves of “honor killings,” where young girls or women who may have had the misfortune of being raped can be murdered for bringing shame to the family. Now, for the sake of political correctness, I am told I must respect that culture and its religion. I personally believe that it would be dishonorable to do so. I refuse to make apologies for criticizing such barbaric behavior.
It seems to me that anyone who insists we honor or respect such inhuman activity certainly cannot have empathy or respect for Muslim women, who are the great victims of that culture. Unfortunately, those who have pondered the irrationality of religious faith have failed to articulate the dangers and absurdities of organized religion, and so in the 21st century we still pay homage to Bronze Age drivel.
I believe anyone who believes Islam is a peaceful religion hijacked by extremists lives in a mirage, and has not paid serious attention to history. Semper Fi. AL CASE Onia